Hanna: Remington is an example of what is needed’

The incumbent for the 24th Congressional District toured the Remington Arms facility in the village of Ilion on Monday, the same day his opponent announced an endorsement from its union. After a tour of the facility Monday morning, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R - Barneveld, conducted a news conference in the Remingt...

The incumbent for the 24th Congressional District toured the Remington Arms facility in the village of Ilion on Monday, the same day his opponent announced an endorsement from its union.

After a tour of the facility Monday morning, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R - Barneveld, conducted a news conference in the Remington Museum to discuss business in New York and how Remington Arms is an example of what is needed in the upstate business community.

“We’re witnessing positive growth here and we feel good about it. We have to help people stay at work in places like Remington Arms,” he said, noting the plant provides the area with upper and middle class jobs, which provide people with the means to buy a house and raise a family.

Hanna, who grew up in Herkimer County, said the facility produces 3,700 new guns a day and he had the opportunity to meet with the 1,230 employees that work at Remington. He noted Remington is one of the longest operating companies in the country.

“We’re looking forward to grow that number [of employees] so Remington is here to stay,” he said.

Otto W. Weigl, senior vice president of government and legislative affairs for Remington Arms, said the company is also looking at selling a “significant amount of M4s to a foreign country,” though he would not name the country. “The state department and Congress has tremendous oversight on who we can and cannot sell to,” he said.

Weigl said Hanna has been a supporter of the Second Amendment, sportsmen and hunters. Hanna also spoke out against microstamping, something Remington Arms officials have opposed.

“It’s not a practical solution to our problem,” he said.

Due to redistricting in the state, Hanna would represent the 22nd Congressional District if re-elected. His opponent, Dan Lamb, announced the endorsement of the United Mine Workers of America Local 717, which represents over 1,000 employees at the Remington Arms facility in Ilion.

“I’ll fight to protect the right to organize and work to stop the outsourcing and exportation of jobs by cracking down on illegal trade practices and unfair trade deals,” said Lamb in a news release. “The middle class has taken a beating these past few years, and they need partners in Washington who stand with them all of the time, not just some of the time. I’ll be that leader.”